The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 362

Princess Youngsun looked slightly dejected.

She hadn’t noticed it before, but now that she thought about it, Dan Ahk-seon’s attitude had always been consistent.

Because of that, she felt a distinct barrier between them, even as they continued their conversation.

‘Am I really that unattractive?’

As she pondered this, they entered a street lined with herbal medicine shops.

Thanks to the Divine Doctor family’s fame, this street had long become a specialty of Muwi, making it the busiest place with the most customers.

Even amidst the rush of haggling, calculating, and dealing with the flood of customers, the merchants recognized Dan Ahk-seon and paused to greet him.

Dan Ahk-seon returned their greetings as he walked along.

After a while,

A look of bewilderment appeared on Princess Youngsun’s face as she walked beside Dan Ahk-seon.

He had suddenly stopped, looking around with a serious expression.

Then, his gaze fixed on one spot.

“Ah!”

A soft exclamation escaped his lips.

“What’s wrong?”

At her question, Dan Ahk-seon belatedly realized her presence and averted his gaze from the herbal medicine shop.

“No, it’s nothing.”

He shook his head and started walking again, but it was clear his mind was elsewhere.

“If you have business at the herbal medicine shop, feel free to stop.”

At her words, he smiled and shook his head.

“That wouldn’t be proper.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Huh?”

Princess Youngsun smiled brightly.

“We can look around together.”

“Would that be alright?”

She nodded at his delighted expression.

“I was curious too. I’ve looked around many places in Muwi, but I’ve never been inside an herbal medicine shop.”

Dan Ahk-seon immediately turned and headed to the shop he had noticed earlier.

Unlike other places, that particular shop was strangely deserted, with few customers.

“Huh?”

Surprise appeared in his eyes as he entered.

The owner was equally surprised but soon smiled and greeted him.

“It’s been a while. I heard you’ve been very busy lately.”

“Did you move your shop?”

At his question, Im-Pyeong smiled and nodded.

“It’s all thanks to Vice Chief Sa.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Originally, Im-Pyeong’s shop was at the end of an alley, in the most secluded spot.

However, Sa Mu-sim, knowing the connection between Dan Ahk-seon and him, used his influence to secure a shop in a prime location.

“By the way, who is that lady…?”

Im-Pyeong asked cautiously, noticing Princess Youngsun standing next to Dan Ahk-seon.

“Ah! I’m late with the introductions.”

Dan Ahk-seon introduced her to Im-Pyeong.

“She’s a guest invited by the Shinma Merchant Guild. She’ll be teaching the children at the academy here for a while.”

He didn’t mention her true identity, not wanting to interfere with her enjoying her freedom while concealing it.

“And this is the herbal medicine merchant I’ve known the longest.”

“Are you perhaps the one he mentioned earlier?”

Dan Ahk-seon nodded towards Princess Youngsun, who asked in surprise.

“Yes, he is.”

“Ah! I see. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Im-Pyeong wore an awkward expression at her welcoming attitude.

“It’s nothing good, though…”

He trailed off and changed the subject.

“By the way, what brings the busy Doctor Dan, busier than the Emperor, here?”

Dan Ahk-seon smiled wryly and looked at Princess Youngsun.

Im-Pyeong was joking because he didn’t know who she was, but it was a remark that could easily offend.

Fortunately, she simply smiled as if she didn’t mind.

Relieved, Dan Ahk-seon looked around the shop and said, “I was passing by and smelled something nice.”

At his words, Im-Pyeong was startled.

“Did you perhaps get some agarwood (沈香) [a fragrant resinous wood used in incense and medicine]?”

“As expected, our Doctor Dan never ceases to amaze. How did you know that like a ghost?”

Im-Pyeong took out a large box from behind the counter and placed it in front of Dan Ahk-seon.

“I bought it all from merchants who had been to Hainan Island recently.”

As he opened the box, a deep and clear fragrance filled the surroundings.

A gleam appeared in Princess Youngsun’s eyes.

The box was filled with pieces of wood of various shapes.

Yet, Dan Ahk-seon’s eyes sparkled as he exclaimed, surprising Princess Youngsun and piquing her curiosity.

“You mentioned agarwood earlier, right? Is it that precious?”

“It is precious. It’s a medicinal ingredient that’s hard to find in the Central Plains.”

Dan Ahk-seon continued, “Agarwood trees don’t exist here. They only grow in clusters in hot and humid regions, far to the west, including Seocheon [a mythical western region in East Asian folklore].”

Agarwood trees had one characteristic: the sap that formed on the bark’s wounds, caused by animals, insects, or wind, hardened into a solid resin over time.

As the tree grew, this resin became buried inside the bark, hardening within the wood for a long time and emitting a strong fragrance.

“Among them, the finest quality with such a strong fragrance is rare.”

“What are its effects?”

At her question, Dan Ahk-seon excitedly opened his mouth.

“When used as a medicine, it basically heals wounds quickly and has excellent effects in removing toxins from the liver and kidneys. In addition, when used as a fragrance, it eliminates headaches and improves concentration.”

“Ah! So that’s why my head felt so clear.”

As Dan Ahk-seon continued the conversation with Princess Youngsun, he suddenly felt strange.

“But why are there so few customers?”

Im-Pyeong smiled awkwardly and pointed to the box containing the agarwood.

“This stuff isn’t cheap. I got greedy the moment I saw it and overdid it.”

Because of that, he lacked the funds to purchase popular items that customers frequently sought.

Dan Ahk-seon smiled broadly.

“That’s good. Then I’ll buy all of it… no, half of it. I’m sure others will need it too.”

“Half of it?”

Im-Pyeong was startled and waved his hand.

“There’s no need to overdo it like that. It’ll sell eventually.”

“It’s not for you, it’s for me. How can I just pass by such good medicine?”

Dan Ahk-seon immediately finished the calculation and paid the price.

He received the packaged agarwood and smiled brightly like a child.

Princess Youngsun felt somewhat empty at the sight.

It was the brightest smile she had seen from him today.

“……”

After staring at him for a while, a determined light appeared in her eyes.

At this point, she couldn’t easily back down, even if it meant being stubborn.

Dan Ahk-seon was engrossed in a conversation with Im-Pyeong, asking and answering about each other’s recent activities since they hadn’t seen each other in a long time.

Confirming this, Princess Youngsun slipped out of the herbal medicine shop.

As she looked around, her gaze fixed on one spot.

Finding Yang-jeon watching her not far away, she quickly gestured and called him closer.

Yang-jeon, thinking something had happened, rushed over.

Princess Youngsun asked him abruptly, “Among the elixirs in the Imperial Palace’s treasury, what is the most expensive and precious?”

“Elixir… do you mean?”

“Yes. Something that is generally hard to find.”

The deliberation didn’t last long.

Princess Youngsun’s face brightened at Yang-jeon’s answer.

“Thank you.”

Yang-jeon was speechless as she quickly turned and disappeared back into the herbal medicine shop.

On the other hand, Princess Youngsun, who carefully returned to Dan Ahk-seon’s side, waited for the two to finish their conversation.

“Then take care.”

“Yes, please stay healthy, Uncle.”

“Okay. Give my regards to the others.”

As Dan Ahk-seon and Im-Pyeong exchanged their final greetings, Princess Youngsun cautiously brought up the topic.

“By the way, how did you know that agarwood was here?”

“I’m good at distinguishing the smell of medicinal ingredients.”

“You clearly distinguished the smell of agarwood among so many medicinal ingredients?”

“I’ve been handling medicinal ingredients since I was very young.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Huh?”

Dan Ahk-seon was flustered, wondering why she was suddenly acting like this.

Princess Youngsun suddenly made a suggestion.

“Then shall we make a bet?”

“A bet?”

“I have a hwandan (丸丹) [a type of medicinal pill]. It’s a bet to guess what medicinal ingredients were used to make this hwandan.”

“But that’s too advantageous for me, isn’t it?”

Princess Youngsun smiled and shook her head.

“Is it really?”

“……?”

“This is a hwandan manufactured with the Imperial Palace’s secrets, so it has never been leaked to the Jianghu [the martial arts world]. The ingredients and manufacturing method are also secret.”

Dan Ahk-seon could suddenly recall one of the elixirs his parents had mentioned long ago.

As expected.

“It’s called the Heavenly Will Divine Pill (天意神丹), have you perhaps heard of it?”

Dan Ahk-seon was startled.

The Imperial family’s elixir, only known by name and whose existence was uncertain, only rumored.

Even his parents had only mentioned it in passing and had never seen it.

Princess Youngsun sensed that her idea had worked as she saw his eyes sparkling.

There is always a time for everything in the world.

With the attitude of not missing a good opportunity (勿失好機) [a Chinese idiom meaning “seize the moment”], she immediately drove in the wedge.

“If the doctor wins the bet, I’ll show you around the Imperial Palace’s treasury of medicinal ingredients. I heard there’s something called Gongcheong Seokyu (空청석유) [likely a rare and valuable mineral oil or resin]….”

Dan Ahk-seon asked in surprise, “Did you just say Gongcheong Seokyu?”

Then he immediately pointed to a nearby tea house.

“Let’s move to a quieter place. Let’s talk, shall we?”

Princess Youngsun smiled with satisfaction and nodded.

“Okay.”

The two of them immediately moved to the tea house.

As they disappeared, people passing by on the street flocked to Im-Pyeong’s herbal medicine shop.

Since Shinma Euiseon [Divine Doctor] was the only shop among the herbal medicine shops lined up on the street, there must be a reason.

That fact stimulated people’s curiosity.

Im-Pyeong had to scream with happiness because of the suddenly overflowing customers.

Meanwhile, Dan Ahk-seon and Princess Youngsun, who entered the tea house, took a seat by a quiet window where there were few people.

Princess Youngsun took out a small box from her bosom and placed it on the tea table.